Putin offers debt relief to boost ranks in Ukraine conflict
Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a law on Saturday, allowing men fighting in Ukraine and their wives to have outstanding loans forgiven up to 10 million roubles, reported the Reuters agency. At the current exchange rate, this is equivalent to about £80,000.
The Kremlin has found a new way to encourage citizens to go to war in Ukraine. So far, Russia has tried to entice volunteers to join the military by, among other means, raising soldiers' pay, which is sometimes several times higher than the average salary. Forces have also been supplemented from prisons.
Now it's time for debtors. Reuters reported that Vladimir Putin signed a law on 23rd November, allowing men fighting in Ukraine and their wives to have their outstanding loans forgiven. They will be able to get rid of debt up to 10 million roubles.
How will this work in practice? The agency reports that outstanding loans will be forgiven for men who sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense after 1st December of this year, committing to fight in Ukraine for at least a year. The condition is that court debt collection proceedings are initiated against them by 1st December.
Russia's losses in Ukraine
In recent weeks, the war in Ukraine has been escalating. Fresh forces have been provided to the Russians by North Korea, which plans to send 10,000 soldiers to the conflict.
The ongoing Russian offensive is being conducted with significant losses. At the end of October, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that approximately 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the war in Ukraine which has been ongoing since February 2022.
According to a Reuters source, Russia has deployed approximately 59,000 soldiers in the Kursk region since Kyiv's forces entered this region and quickly advanced. The aggressor currently has about 575,000 soldiers fighting in Ukraine and aims to increase its forces to around 690,000.
